The Active Naturist: Part II of II

Picture it… it was New York City, the month of June, the summer of 2014. I was invited by my dear friends Ron and David. They came up with the brilliant idea to hang out at the Sandy Hook beach along the Jersey Shore on a hot ass beautiful day. I had never been to this beach and it was a hot day so I happily obliged.

I get to the beach, known as Gunnison beach, and it’s quite a bit of a walk to the sitting area of the beach, or at least where they wanted to post up. I kind of noticed that the majority of the folks on the beach, men and women, were naked. It hadn’t dawned on me that we were at a nude beach, because well, why on earth why would we be at a nude beach? Who does that?

We set up our area. I drop trow and leave my swim trunks on. Ron and David… drop trousers and… NOTHIN. I’m like, “ok, that’s cute, but not for me.” I had never been in a public setting that was inviting of nudity, for one. Two, I never had any intention, want nor desire to be nude in public. My friend Bruce was my only connection to nudists as a whole (ref. Part I) up until that point. I gawked at them like, “oh, so that’s where we’re at now?”. It wasn’t that I hadn’t seen my buddies’ in all of their natural glory, it was the level of comfort that I hadn’t known existed with them in being here. But again, not for me. Or so I thought right?

I lay down after having some sunblock applied and I observe my surroundings. What a marvel it was to see many a type of person on this beach. Mature, younger, men, women, racially and ethnically diverse, couples, singles, and yes, even families with children, mostly nude. At the time I knew nothing of clothing optional places, resorts, and excursions. Never in a million years could I have guessed it was a “thing”, and for some throughout the years I have discovered and even right then and there, a lifestyle or rather, a way of living, of being even.

That’s when he walks up to our camp, this young, beautifully sun-kissed lad. I knew only that he was a friend of my dear friend David, who I was with at the beach that day, and that they took Capoeira classes together. Aside from the visual beauty, he seemed to perspire kindness, just in a very natural, non-intentional way. I remember when we spoke I heard his Ukrainian accent which I found to be quite pleasant. Later on, I’d discover that this man was in a league of his own at the time. He ran an online blog titled “The Active Naturist” in which he traveled the world to different places that were open to or available to individuals who wanted to be in the buff, especially in places that were of a more natural setting. I had never heard of such a thing. I JUST found out that there was a nude optional beach in New York/New Jersey. Now there is a whole world of people who just get nude for the sake of it? And in public places?! Sign me up, haha! From that point on, he invited me to naked hikes, yoga classes, and even events and retreats dedicated to the clothing-optional individual.

Meeting and befriending the man known to many as the active naturist, opened up a world of possibilities and adventure I hadn’t known existed and that would bring life lessons, opportunities, and the chance to express myself in ways that I hadn’t dreamed of…

(STAY TUNED TO MORE ADVENTURES…)

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